A new fire has been discovered in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park.

The Lookout Fire is located about a mile and a half southwest of Heart Lake. The lightning-caused fire was discovered Sunday afternoon. It is about a half-acre in size. This fire will be actively managed as a Wildland Fire Used for Resource Benefit, since it poses no threat to people or property.

Warmer temperatures, sunny skies, and windy conditions are causing some increase in fire behavior and smoke from several other fires in the park.

Firefighters assigned to the Columbine Fire continue to focus on protecting structures outside the park and ensuring continued access over the East Entrance road. Some torching, smoldering and burning was observed Sunday as the fire grew 30 acres. The fire, burning in both Yellowstone National Park and the Shoshone National Forest, is now estimated at 18,285 acres and is 15 percent contained. Updates are available on the web at http://inciweb.org/incident/920/ or by phone at 307-344-2580.

Two other fires burning in the backcountry near Yellowstone Lake could become more active after being quieted by recent rains. The Beaverdam Fire is east of the southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake and south of the Columbine Fire. It remains estimated at 1,300 acres. The Promontory Complex covers about 1,600 acres of a large peninsula at the south end of Yellowstone Lake. Both are being actively managed as a Wildland Fires Used for Resource Benefit, since they pose no threat to people or property.

The 2,800 acre Owl Fire in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park remains quiet. Firefighters continue to patrol the perimeter.

Large fires burning in Idaho and Western Montana are responsible for most of the smoky haze occurring over much of Yellowstone National Park.

None of the fires in the park pose a threat to visitors. All park entrances and roads are open to the public. All camping, lodging, restaurants, stores, service stations, and visitor centers inside the park are open. Updated Yellowstone National Park road information is available 24 hours a day by calling 307-344-2117.

Yellowstone averages twenty-two lightning caused fires a year. Sixteen of the twenty-one fires which have occurred in the park this year have been started by lightning. Fire restrictions in the park were lifted last Thursday evening.

Yellowstone National Park aggressively works to suppress all human-caused fires and any naturally occurring fires when they threaten people or developed areas.

The Specimen Creek trail and some backcountry campsites near the Owl Fire remain temporarily closed. Backcountry campsites on The Promontory are also temporarily closed. Updated information is available at all of the park’s Backcountry Offices or by calling 307-344-2160 during business hours.